Oct. 2, 2012

Written by

Maria Giordano

The Tennessean

FRANKLIN Williamson County Schools’ Director Mike Looney said they still have no confirmation from state or county health officials about viral meningitis in a local school, but that they are nonetheless taking it seriously.

In a press conference this morning, Looney told reporters that four families told administrators at Oak View Elementary School that their children had been diagnosed with viral meningitis. It’s unclear just how many students are actually infected.

Looney told reporters that he didn’t know, but that it was between 4 and 7 children, and that one parent recently called to say their child did not have the virus. He also did not know the condition of students who said they had the illness. No new reports have been received.

In the past two weeks, Oak View Elementary Acting Principal Kate Donnelly sent two letters home to parents, the first, Sept. 20, informed parents that students were showing signs and symptoms of a "severe viral illness." The letter also says they are consulting with the Williamson County Health Department, and emphasized the importance of taking a sick child to the doctor.

The second letter, sent Sept. 25, confirmed that several students were reported to have viral meningitis and some required hospitalization. Donnelly also explains that viral meningitis is not reported to the state like bacterial meningitis, a more life-threatening form of the illness.

Extra cleaning crews were brought in over a weekend to thoroughly disinfect common areas, in addition to regular cleaning. Buses that transport Oak View Elementary students also were cleaned, Looney said.

But Looney, who said the press conference was in response to recent media reports and to address concerned parents, said they stopped short of advising other schools because they didn’t think it appropriate to sound an alarm across the district without factual information. “We handled this matter in the same way we handle all other student health issues,” he said. “Whether its viral meningitis or the flu, we’ve redoubled our efforts.”